Town Square

not homeless

Original post made
by terri, Palo Alto Orchards,
on May 29, 2007

Why do so many people think the people outide of Whole Foods and Pete's are homeless? The one guy who asks for things like 26cents,, for example are not homeless. He drives up in a mercedes (older0 but still a car, has a lap top and an apartment. i think we should donate to organizations whcih help real needy people.

Posted by Questions & Comments
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on May 30, 2007 at 3:48 pm

I saw the Mercedes also. A car is an expensive responsibility if you add up gas, maintenance, insurance, registration fees. The individual in question, Frost, has run for city council. Trying to speak with him about his causes/purposes might help provide an insight into his situation.

The underlying Question/Comment is a sometimes troubling one. Most of us, given valid assurances that our donations would help the truly needy, would gladly part with a few dollars a month. What we don't want to happen to those dollars is to have them eaten up by administrative costs [salaries and perks] of non-profits or to a non-needy person. We don't want to give to someone who might have a healthy contempt for us; we don't want to risk being the fool. But we may still have a day when we see someone so obviously in need or with whom we momentarily identify, that we override our reservations. Not every street person is connected to, or can be connected to, community services.

Posted by Chris
a resident of Community Center
on Jun 5, 2007 at 12:22 am

dO YOU (and the above) think that unless a person is bleeding profusely they are not entitled to any "social services" or donations? To judge a person, be it the color of his skin, gender,or otherwise is against the law.. It's called discrimination. There is only one true judge. If you are so inclined to donate, do. Those who ask for personal donations obviously have a need for money for something that drives them to sit and beg. Money in this town doesn't go far, as if you haven't noticed. If that man's Mercedes breaks down, can you imagine the cost of a cheap repair job??????? Anyone on a fixed income would have thoughts of sitting on the street corner with a sign and a hat to hopefully get a handout or two........It is not easy living hand to mouth as they say..any little extra kink in the daily living that causes a backside can snowball on someone with no means of saving for that "rainyday" cushion.

No, you are not a fool and next time you donate to any cause, know that someone out there will be helped spiritually as well. They may even manage a smile of relief instead of a frown because they are so down. Good to have happy faces abound in our society..........